Protecting Your Young Child From RSV

Few things can make a parent feel more helpless than a sick kid. You want to do everything you can to make them feel better – especially when your child is just a baby or toddler and can’t communicate what they’re feeling or understand why they feel so sick.

By understanding illnesses like Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which can affect young children differently than older kids and adults, you can be better prepared for what to expect.

What is RSV?

You may not have heard of RSV, but it is likely that you have felt the effects of it.

“Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common virus that can be one of the many causes of the common cold in healthy, older children and adults,” says Marisa Elias, M.D., a pediatrician for Henry Ford Health System. “RSV lasts about one week but the illness is at its worst on days 3 to 5.”

Like other respiratory viruses, RSV is spread through contact and droplet. This means it is easy to pick up. Someone sneezing near you or touching an infected surface or item can put you in contact with the virus.

Symptoms of RSV can include:

Runny nose

Fever

Congestion

Sneezing

Coughing

Dehydration

How does RSV affect kids?

RSV is more dangerous in infants and young children because
they have smaller airways. “What happens with RSV is that irritation creates a
lot of mucus,” says Dr. Elias. “Since infants and young children are nose
breathers, it is difficult for them to breathe since they cannot blow their
nose.”

This mucus can block airways – causing coughing and
wheezing. In serious cases, RSV can develop into a lung infection called
bronchiolitis. If your child gets this lung infection multiple times, they can
develop asthma
when they are older.

“For those who have recurrent RSV bronchiolitis and a family
history of asthma, sometimes a prescription to relieve coughing and congestion can
be administered using a nebulizer,” says Dr. Elias. “There is also a vaccine
available in the first year of life for special cases such as premature infants
less than 29 weeks old and those with chronic lung disease or congenital heart
disease.”

How can you prevent RSV?

Being in contact with others who have RSV puts you and your child at a greater risk of getting the virus. Cases of this virus often spread quickly in daycare or school settings because children are in close contact, and during colder months of the year. The best thing you can do is to encourage frequent hand washing and keep toys and surfaces properly sanitized.

What can you do if your child has RSV?

If your child does come down with a cold that may be RSV, use
these tips to get them on the fast track to recovery and prevent complications:

Stay
hydrated. Infants and small children may become dehydrated
because they cannot breathe properly during feeding. Monitor your child’s fluid
intake and how frequently their diaper is wet or they’re using the bathroom to
make sure they are properly hydrated.

Keep the nose
clear. Make sure to suction your baby or toddler’s nose frequently to help
them breathe easier. For older children, encourage them to blow their nose
often.

Prevent
the spread of germs. Encourage your child to cough into their sleeve to keep
others from getting sick. Make sure they are washing their hands and that the house
gets properly cleaned and disinfected any time someone in your house
is sick.

Be alert if your child has RSV – especially if they are less
than 2 years old or premature. Reach out to your child’s pediatrician if your
child is having a hard time breathing, is drinking or urinating less than
normal, or is unusually tired. They may need to be admitted to the hospital to
get supplemental oxygen to help their breathing or an IV if they need fluids
because they are unable to feed properly.

A health and wellness blog produced by Henry Ford Health System, and designed to share our knowledge on a variety of topics – from tips on eating healthy, staying fit and reducing stress to advice on chronic disease management and news on medical research and health technology.